Singapore Revisited Log 5.6: Wedding Preparation

My friend Tucky told me a few times that he "couldn't have done it without me," throughout his wedding preparation week. In reality, all I did was to keep him company. Surely, a big boy could wash his own car, carry a few bags or get his wedding car tied up in ribbons? However, a man living his last days as a bachelor is usually at his most vulnerable. All of a sudden, he is a lost child and any simple thing suddenly seem a big challenge. I fully understood. I was there before so therefore I was there for him. Besides, I thought it would be fun to have our usual chats together like we always did and it was. We had plenty of time talking while we drove around the place getting things done.


Back in those days when we first met as young teenagers barely out of childhood, I would never imagine Tucky getting married. It was just too far away and too difficult to imagine what type of woman he would fall for. He ended up the last of us to get married but that would be well worth the wait to see watch him settle down with the fine woman who love and appreciate him. Though I spoke to his would-be wife for no more than ten times, it wasn't difficult to sense what kind of girl she was. My buddy would be in good hands, he got lucky and he knew it but he needed it and he deserved it. In return, his wife could expect his undying love and loyalty.


I told Tucky the wedding preparation process was the first test of an impending marriage. It would be a period where a couple would be pissed off with each other for whatsoever reasons, due to the anxiety and the hustle of getting everything done right on time. It would be the time to see a side of each other that they might have never seen yet. I had even heard of couples breaking off during this period, due to differences. In short, a wedding preparation is a sneak preview of marriage, which runs on teamwork, clear communication and the willingness to compromise. It is also the time you see the true colours of the person you are about marry, leaving you one last chance to plug out or be prepared for what lies ahead.


Grand wedding grand thoughts aside, the Malaysian girls at the wedding shop really caught our attention - but not in the manner you think. My buddy had a special request and that was to erect a pair of soft toys characters that his girlfriend likes. Needless to say, before you sign on the dotted like, every and anything could be done. A different story once the bill was paid. 



No, the toys were too big. No, the toys were standing and not sitting. No, that would require a large wedge at the back and that would look really ugly. No, the 'wind' would force the toys to a 'sleeping position' when once the car moved at high speed. In short, "We are not doing that."


All they brought along was a pair of scissors and a stapler. The only trick up their sleeves (oops, they didn't have sleeves, no wonder) were tying up the toys with ribbons. No wonder they thought the job couldn't be done. Ribbons and staples. Genius. We couldn't be bothered to argue because it was too hot to do so in that underground car park. The girls just wanted to get the job done and begone. So did we.


When we got back to Tucky's home, I requested for some safety pins. In no time, he returned with his mum's sewing kit, a good ol' fashioned one in a metal tin that once contained food long ago. It had everything a half baked engineer would need to perform a simple task of erecting a pair of soft toys in front of a car. I told Tucky to carry on other unfinished business.


Tucky returned after a few minutes from the petrol kiosk armed with a carton of drinks for the guests attending the tea ceremony at his house the next day. Eyeing on the new addition on his wedding car, he asked, "Done ah?"


"Ya. How?" came my reply.


He circled around the toys curiously and glanced suspiciously for a few seconds and commented, "Hmm, looks not bad."


"I'm pretty confident it will not fall back when the car moves. Wanna try?" I suggested.


After a glance at the time and confirming we had time to burn, Tucky said, "Yeah, let's go."


At 70km/h, the toys did not flinch. "Go on!" I urged Tucky on. 80km/h. 90km/h. The toys remained steadfast just as we wanted them. "Done," we grinned like the childish teens we were when we first met.

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